03-MARCH-MYANMAR-A personal project for 2026

For the month of March, I’ve chosen to highlight Myanmar. I first visited this remarkable country in February 2011, at a time when it was just beginning to open up to tourism, with new hotels emerging and a relatively stable political climate. The journey took me from Yangon, the capital, to Inle Lake, then to the extraordinary Bagan, and finally Mandalay.

It’s difficult to fully capture the beauty of this country in words, but I hope the images shared on Instagram throughout March convey the deep connection I feel to its landscapes, architecture, and, above all, its people.

The image above represents two of the main elements that I found fascinating from this country, the use of Gold tones and the stupas reaching out to the sky. Both elements of an incredible beauty.

Religion-Buddhism: plays an important role in every day's life and I had the opportunity to visit many temples, the most striking ones where in the ancient city of Bagan, where I was able to explore many of them and marvel at the vast landscape of temples stretching endlessly in every direction.

Brick Temples: Beyond the gold finishes, I found myself drawn to the brickwork in their temples—the details, the careful proportions, and their impressive scale. Each temple feels distinct, yet they all share a cohesive architectural language, coming together to form a uniquely compelling landscape.

Vernacular Architecture: In contrast to the ornate temples, what struck me most around Inle Lake was the quiet restraint of its vernacular architecture.

Straight lines, natural materials, and timber columns rising from the water creates a language that feels deeply rooted in place and that reflects the humble character of the people who lives in them.

Wood and Roof Details: in Myanmar, wood—and also metal—is crafted into intricate elements that elevate every rooftop and corner of the building.

Each carving feels deeply rooted in culture and heritage, adding a layer of identity to the architecture. The verticality and expressive forms beautifully complement the otherwise horizontal composition of the buildings.

White–Gold and Blue Contrast: I was struck by the contrast created by these 3 tones: crisp white surfaces, gold stupas and decorative elements, and deep blue skies, especially in Mandalay.

Together, they create a visual identity I now instinctively associate with the country—and one that continues to inspire me long after the journey ended!

All the images in this blog has been taken by me (jose@olivares.hk) and if you want to see-comment each daily image for March, please check our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/olivares_hoteldesign/#